December 7, 2017: Your say on voting stats, banks, and greyhounds

Elections

INTERESTING that much of Australia is rapidly approaching or is conducting both state and federal elections.

However, before the excitement begins, how is it that 49 per cent of the voters can vote one way and then an individual who receives less than 5 per cent of his/her state vote (read 1 per cent of the national vote) can decide who should form government?

Additionally, if I vote for an individual, then I expect he/she should represent me, not some ‘faceless’ party heavyweight in Sydney. It needs to be made clear that if one party gets more votes than another, then the majority of voters have given them a mandate to form minority government. After all, democracy is “for the people – by the people”.

To form government by parties doing deals with ‘outsiders’ means the death of Australian democracy, because, if the majority of the people’s vote can be overridden by an individual, then we have a dictatorship.

Every independent therefore should be forced to state his/her allegiances prior to election day.

Robert Clarke, Burnie.

Political correctness

I read with interest Jo Palmer's article in (The Sunday Examiner, December 3). I agree wholeheartedly with Jo.

I'm quite sure that if we were to travel to a non-Christian country their residents would not be cancelling their references to, or celebrations of, their own religious/secular holidays or beliefs. Australia may be multicultural but we have the right to continue our own historic practices such as Easter, Christmas etc without feeling we may be offending people who have chosen Australia as their new home.

Welcome to the new Australians, but please allow us to continue our own traditions.

Dianne Sceetrine, East Launceston.

Government

IS THERE no way to force this current federal government to an early election?

Surely there are procedures that can be used to show "no confidence" in a government?

Our current government representatives have demonstrated gross incompetence (NBN anyone?), failure to protect national icons (Adani mine proposal risking Barrier Reef) and a fundamental inability to read ("I didn't know the constitution said that bit about dual nationality").

And beyond all of that, they have demonstrated no care and concern for struggling Australians (low wage rates, Centrelink robo debt fiasco, cut pensioner rates, drug test people on welfare) and way too much concern for big corporations.

In my mind, the worst of all is that they have shown the attitudes and the morals of a police state in their unmitigated brutality to refugees. Isn't it time we got rid of them?

Can't we get rid of them? Where is our opposition? Where are the unions? Where is the media? How much longer must this go on?

Anne Brelsford, Legana.

Royal Commission

A ROYAL Commission into banking practices is well overdue and should have happened in 2008 at the time of the Global Financial Crisis.

At that time, the banks were gambling with our money (and still are) with exposure to leveraged instruments called derivatives of $8 trillion. Our exposure now is of the order of $30 trillion, and I am bracing myself for GFC (2).

It’s all very well for Mr Turnbull to look into the banks’ financial planners, but what about separating the savings banks from the trading banks and implement Glass-Steagall legislation to protect everyone’s savings and retirement? Mr Turnbull’s Royal Commission is nothing more than papering over the cracks.

Rod Force, Sandy Bay.

Greyhounds

HAVING your greyhound euthanised because it can no longer “earns its keep” is equivalent to having your child euthanised because they’ve become unemployed.

While racing dog owners claim they love their animals, that love seems to have gone out the window now they’re not making a fast buck.

A.R. Trounson, Needles.

Memory Loss

I WENT to a restaurant with a friend, we only had one glass of wine each, but neither of us could remember the name of the Federal Member for Bass.

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

Swift Parrot

WHAT CAME first, the swift parrot or the egg?

No point asking, vital to their survival as a species, are being cut down in breeding areas.

Must they go the way of the Thylacine?

If so, ignorance can not be used as a reason for their sad demise.

Elsa de Ruyter, St Helens.

Drivers

I HAVE read with interest letters praising Tasmanian drivers.

I have driven a lot in every state and I find Tasmanian drivers to be the worst.

In Kings Meadows, i have seen disabled pedestrians trying to cross the road in the rain at a crossing and not one driver will give way.

Approaching a set of traffic lights that are on red, drivers will not allow a turning vehicle to enter the main road.

Road courtesy in Tasmania is non-existent.

Brian Hodgson, Youngtown.

Let Down

WHAT A kick in the guts for the 63.6 per cent of Tasmanians who voted yes in the same-sex marriage survey, when Tasmanian senators Abetz and Polley voted no in the Senate to change the Marriage Act.

Some of those people who voted yes most probably helped both senators get elected, how disappointed and let down must they feel by the senators betrayal and attempt to stop the change that they voted for.